Above all else, athletic endeavors are supposed to teach kids lessons for life.
On a pseudo-exam given Dec. 14 at West Catholic High, the across-the-board grade for Rob Hollomon and five close buddies was a resounding A-plus.

One day earlier, the football Burrs, covered in stardust all season and most folks’ solid (if not overwhelming) favorite, had suffered a devastating loss – 35-34 in two overtimes – to Wilmington in the PIAA Class AA state final in Hershey.

If Hollomon and the other football players had skipped basketball practice that next day, everyone would have understood. In fact, coach Bill Ludlow had put out the word that their participation was not required.

But as the gymnasium door swing open, and the basketballs began to bounce, there they were, partaking and earning respect.

The football aftermath was a natural topic of conversation last night after West swooshed past Cardinal O’Hara, 62-48, in the championship game of the latter’s Christmas tournament.

With 15 points, three assists and four steals, the 5-8, 160-pound Hollomon, a senior combination guard, was one of West’s headliners.

He was even better afterward, when he was asked to flash back to mid-December and did not kindly – or even not so kindly, no offense would have been taken – ask a reporter to come up with another line of questioning.

“That loss was rough,” Hollomon said. “It hurt a lot the first week and it still bothered me into the second week.

“Now? I’m over it. I don’t like that it happened, and that’ll never change, but I’m learning not to dwell on it. I’m looking forward to all the great things that are still going to happen in my life.” Read the rest of this entry »

After Cardinal Dougherty’s 42 point loss to Neumann-Goretti last friday, the scene was set for the Cardinals to take on the Burrs of West Catholic Monday night. All eyes were on West’s senior center Ade Barek of the Burrs who was the tallest player on the floor and glided through the air during warm-ups. From the opening tip-off, it seemed the Burrs seemed had this one for sure by possesing more size and atheleticism.

After a very close game, the Burrs pulled out a slim 2 point win 43-41. West Catholic scored at will at the begining of the game but the Cardinals made defensive adjustments and the game stayed within their reach. The strong play of senior center Norman Dorsey Poles with put backs and mid-range shots made it impossible for the Burrs to shake free from the Cardinals.

Coach Heimerdinger apparently prepared his team well to play tonight because when the first quarter came to an end West Catholic was only ahead by 4 points. As the game progressed the Cardinals began to gain confidence with every play. Throughout the second quarter the Cardinals had everyone involved on both ends of the floor. CD point guard Brandyn Wims also ignited the offense by making spectacular assists and shooting with a sweet lefty stroke. The fans began to get involved going into the second half after the Cardinals pulled to within 1 point. Brandyn Wims came back onto the floor picking up from where he left off at the half. Getting his team involved and showing solid ball handling ability he wooed the crowd after a series of ankle breaking hesitation drives to the basket.

Sophomore guard Aquil Younger made acrobatic drives to the hole and attempted to take control of would ultimately turn out to be a hard-fought win for the Burrs. Numerous turnovers and blown layups along with missed free throws kept the Cardinals hanging around late, but at the end West proved to be the better team on this night by pulling out a close win.